Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I had informed my colleague from Louisiana that I would come to the floor to once again ask unanimous consent on an issue he has been holding or blocking, and it is the issue of the promotion of General Walsh, a distinguished American soldier who has served his country for 30 years and served in wartime, who has been approved to have a promotion to the rank of major general by the Senate Armed Services Committee, and that committee approved that promotion unanimously, the committee headed by Senators Carl Levin and John McCain. Both strongly support the promotion of General Walsh. That support was given and the notice of promotion was voted on by the Armed Services Committee in September of last year. This soldier's career has been put on hold by the hold of one Senator, the Senator from Louisiana. I informed him that I would speak on the floor on this, so I am not being impolite. I normally would not speak of another person solely on the floor of the Senate. Yet the Senator from Louisiana is the one who has exhibited the hold to prevent the promotion of this soldier. I know this soldier. That is not why I am on the floor. I know General Walsh. He commands the Mississippi Valley Division of the Corps of Engineers and does a great job, in my judgment. But, again, his career has been stalled by the actions of one Senator.…”